Total debt service in Tonga
Tonga: Total debt service was 22.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total debt service in Tonga, 1985–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of exports of goods, services and primary income.
Analysis
In 2024, total debt service in Tonga stood at 22.8%. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 106.6% on the previous year and up 239.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total debt service in Tonga peaked at 22.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.3%, in 1989.
That places Tonga 28th out of 120 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total debt service in Tonga, year by year
| Year | % of exports of goods, services and primary income | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 3.4% | — |
| 1986 | 3.7% | +7.8% |
| 1987 | 3.6% | -2.2% |
| 1988 | 4.2% | +15.1% |
| 1989 | 3.3% | -22.2% |
| 1990 | 4.4% | +36.2% |
| 1991 | 4.5% | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 4.8% | +7.8% |
| 1993 | 4.6% | -5.2% |
| 2001 | 9.8% | +113.7% |
| 2002 | 8.9% | -9.1% |
| 2003 | 8.3% | -7.6% |
| 2004 | 8.6% | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 9.8% | +13.1% |
| 2006 | 8.6% | -12.1% |
| 2007 | 10.6% | +23.9% |
| 2008 | 8.7% | -17.7% |
| 2009 | 7.2% | -18.1% |
| 2010 | 9.3% | +30.1% |
| 2011 | 6.5% | -29.7% |
| 2012 | 6.2% | -6.0% |
| 2013 | 5.7% | -7.9% |
| 2014 | 6.7% | +18.8% |
| 2015 | 7.4% | +9.9% |
| 2016 | 5.1% | -30.5% |
| 2017 | 4.0% | -21.3% |
| 2018 | 6.7% | +64.6% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | -46.7% |
| 2020 | 4.0% | +12.6% |
| 2021 | 4.9% | +22.0% |
| 2022 | 11.0% | +125.2% |
| 2023 | 11.0% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 22.8% | +106.6% |
Tonga compared with similar countries
- Tonga's 22.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.4%, 1.6× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Tonga's 22.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.3%, 2.5× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.6% | 3.3% | 4.2% | 5 |
| 1990s | 4.6% | 4.4% | 4.8% | 4 |
| 2000s | 8.9% | 7.2% | 10.6% | 9 |
| 2010s | 6.1% | 3.6% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.7% | 4.0% | 22.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Tonga
More economy & growth data for Tonga
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.3875 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.2 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 1.25 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0019 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 12.03 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -12.08 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -560.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0187 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -115.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 9.39 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total debt service in Tonga?
- Total debt service in Tonga was 22.8% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total debt service recorded in Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 22.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.3% in 1989.
- How does Tonga rank for total debt service?
- Tonga ranks 28th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total debt service rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is up 239.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tonga data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total debt service to exports of goods, services and primary income. Total debt service is the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt, interest paid on short-term debt, and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF.